Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Puppets! Puppets! Puppets!

On Tuesday, March 2nd, the library will present two special children's programs. Deborah Costine of the Gerwick Puppets will perform for children ages 3-5 at 11am, and for children ages five and up at 1pm. This program is made possible by a generous gift from the Anderson Foundation to the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library.

Also, everyone is invited to enjoy the new puppet theater in our children's room, which was recently given to the library in honor of Karen Kennedy on her birthday. Have fun with your family by putting on your own show, and please share with others.

Indian Cooking Class - CLASS IS NOW FULL

On Tuesday March 9th at 7pm, Uma Datta will demonstrate cooking techniques using Indian spices and recipes. Class size is limited, so sign up early for this very popular class. Sign up for this class at the library circulation desk, or register online by visiting the library event calendar.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Yiddish and Jive in American English

This Tuesday, February 23rd at 7pm, the library welcomes Herb Foster, author of the best selling book, Ribbin', Jivin', and Playing the Dozens: The Persistent Dilemma in our Schools. Herb has just finished the manuscript for his new book on Yiddish and Jive in American English. So schlep yourselves to the library, schmooze with your friends, and discuss Professor Foster's new book. This is sure to be an entertaining and informative evening.

Herb Foster is professor emeritus, Graduate School of Education, SUNY/Buffalo. For 3 1/2 years he hosted "Inside Education", a weekly program on National Public Radio. He has been published in innumerable articles always concerning education and preserving the English language.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Contributions for Haiti Relief Can be Deducted on Your 2009 Tax Return

A new law allows you to choose to deduct certain charitable contributions of money made after January 11th and before March 1, 2010 on your 2009 tax return instead of your 2010 return.

The new law was enacted after the 2009 forms were printed. For more information and details on how to deduct you charitable contributions, visit the IRS Website, or pick up Notice 1396 at the library.

Many Federal and State tax forms and instruction books, including the 1040, 1040EZ, 1040A, and associated schedules, are available at the library. If there’s a form we don’t have, the library can make a copy of the form at no charge (instruction books excluded).

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

March Reading Series at Vineyard Libraries

On Thursday, March 25th at 5:30pm, the Vineyard Haven Public Library will be hosting an evening of poetry with Rebecca Lindenberg and Sara Elizabeth Johnson, Poetry Fellows at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. The Fine Arts Work Center is a leading long-term residency program for emerging artists and writers.

This event is part of a series sponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Library Association, to be held at Martha’s Vineyard libraries throughout the month of March. Each program will feature poetry or fiction fellows reading from their work and engaging in question-and-answer sessions with the public. The readings will be held Thursday evenings at 5:30pm and are free to the public. A reception will follow each reading.

Other dates in the series:

March 4 at the West Tisbury Library
March 11 at the Oak Bluffs Library
March 18 at the Edgartown Library

The series is supported in part by a grant from the Martha’s Vineyard Cultural Council, a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Sunday with Friends: Rev. Dr. Judy Campbell

Writing Your Story: An Author Speaks

On Sunday, February 21st at 2pm, the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library will host an afternoon with poet and novelist Reverend Judy Campbell. Judy will talk about the writing process and getting your work published. There will be time for questions, and an opportunity to hear Judy read from her work as a writer. Light refreshments will follow the talk.

Two Cool Events: Antarctica and Alaska

On Tuesday, February 16th at 7pm, oceanographer Andrew McDonnell will share photographs, stories, and basic science from his research and travels to Antarctica in 2009. He'll explore some of the scenery, wildlife, and people that make Antarctica such a unique and magnificent place. He will also explain some of the scientific objectives and operations on and around the continent and describe how a rapidly changing climate is threatening the ice, oceans and ecosystems of the region. Andrew McDonnell is a Ph.D. student in the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and MIT.

On Sunday, March 21st, travel to Alaska without leaving Martha’s Vineyard. Joe Doebler, an experienced photographer, will share his recent visit to Alaska and the Bering Strait with a slide show. The program will begin at 2pm, and light refreshments will follow the talk. The Sunday with Friends series is sponsored by the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library. The mission of the Friends is to support the Library, to build a partnership between the Library and the community and to advocate for quality library service.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Free VHS Exchange at the Library

The Vineyard Haven library now has a "VHS Exchange" rack in the DVD section on the main floor. A selection of VHS tapes are available to library patrons with no check-out required. You may keep the tapes, or return them whenever you wish. The library will also accept donated VHS tapes to share, but please check with a staff member before leaving a donation. All DVDs, and VHS tapes located on the lower level of the library, should still be checked out using a CLAMS card.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Monthly Book Sales Continue

The Friends of the Library hold "mini" book sales at the library, from 1pm-3pm on the third Saturday of each month. This month's sale will be held on Saturday, February 20th.

Proceeds from these sales benefit library programs for children, and other library services supported by the Friends. Next month's sale will be held on Saturday, March 20th, from 1pm-3pm.